IMA slams Haryana govt for MBBS fees hike

Indian Medical Association (IMA) president Dr Rajan Sharma stated that the plight of students from poor family background would be perilous if the fees in public medical colleges are raised to Rs 10 lakh per year from Rs 50,000 per year. Haryana government has recently introduced a policy wherein the loan availed for Rs 10 lakh would be repaid by the government for students who secure government job.

New Delhi: Indian Medical Association (IMA) president Dr Rajan Sharma has criticised the decision taken by the Haryana government to raise the fees of government medical colleges in the State.

The fees in public medical colleges have been raised to Rs 10 lakh per year from around Rs 50,000 per year. With this, a student seeking admission in an MBBS course will have to pay Rs 40 lakh for the four-year course.

"I strongly condemn the decision. Shall we do this to students from poor families who get admission in government colleges after qualifying entrance exam? There is the widespread protest in Haryana," Sharma told when asked to comment on the government's decision regarding fee hike.

"In the ordinance, it is clearly written that if a student gets Haryana government job, the government will provide a loan, the government will pay EMI but employment is not guaranteed. What was the necessity to bring this ordinance?" he asked.

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In order to incentivise doctors to opt for Haryana Government medical service, the State government on November 6 came out with a policy that states candidates selected for MBBS degree course in government medical colleges need to execute an annual bond for Rs 10 lakh minus the fee at the start of every academic year.

The candidate can pay the entire bond amount without recourse to the loan or the State government will facilitate them for availing an education loan for this bond amount. As per the policy, the government will repay the annual instalments of the loan if the candidate obtains employment with the State government.

The Haryana medical education and research department has revised the fees for medical courses and introduced bonds for students, for which a system of loans has been put in place.

(ANI)